Match report from Seattle Sounders:

Ben Somoza scored his first goal of the season and the Seattle Sounders played to a 1-1 draw against the Rochester Raging Rhinos Friday.  The draw pushes the Sounders into a fourth place tie with Vancouver in the United Soccer League First Division.

It was a typical start to a Sounders road game with the home team coming out on the attack. Three times in the first 15 minutes Seattle goalkeeper Preston Burpo was called upon to make diving saves of Rochester scoring opportunities, denying Kirk Wilson and Mauro Carbajal the back of the net.

His counterpart at the other end, Scott Vallow, was equal to the task. He was credited with just one save in the game's first 45 minutes but it was a big one as he blocked C.J. Klaas' left-footer from three yards up after Klaas got behind the Rhinos defense and took a perfect cross from Welton.

The Sounders broke through first thanks to Somoza's perseverance and a little luck. After Roger Levesque pushed the ball through to Welton the Rochester defense converged and deflected the ball wide toward the right of the penalty area. Somoza corralled the loose ball and dragged it toward the end line, looking for an opportunity to cross. Two yards up he sent the ball toward the Rhino goal where it was misplayed by a Rochester defender then bounced past Vallow, just across the goal line giving Seattle a 1-0 lead in the 43rd minute.

Rochester brought in Rey Martinez in the 59th minute and he quickly made an impact. Taking a ball down the right touchline he sent a cross into the six-yard box at the right post. As the ball dipped toward Burpo, Sounder defender Taylor Graham tried to clear the ball out before Carbajal could get a right foot on it but instead misplayed it under Burpo's left arm and into his own goal.

Seattle's best scoring chance of the second half came as Welton got behind Rhino defender Scott Schweitzer who fanned on an attempted header at midfield. Welton crossed to an on rushing Andrew Gregor, but Gregor was well marked by two Rochester defenders and his strike from 18 yards found the arms of a diving Vallow.

Statistics:
         Rochester    Seattle
Shots:      22           8
Saves:       4          10
Corners:     7           4
Fouls:       9          18
Offsides:    5           5

Misconduct:
26' ROC - Wilson cautioned
45' SEA - Sleeth cautioned

Referees: Steve Karaduzovic; Steven Ambrus, Anthony Perdue; Vladimir Fabre

Attendance: 10,906